For those of you that weren’t blessed enough to be raised in the 70’s, you might have missed one of the most interesting TV shows called Fantasy Island. Honestly, most weeks were pretty lame as far as the depth of the script, but it did provide an hour of mindless entertainment. Each week, new arrivals would come to Fantasy Island and through some mystical experience have the opportunity to live out their fantasy. Sometimes this would lead to a wonderful time, while others had a dreadful stay, but all seemed to learn something. Most came to the island thinking it would be the capstone of their lives and lead to fulfillment, however, it never turned out exactly as they imagined.
I think a lot of people spend their days trying to live on Fantasy Island. They think that some mystical experience or stroke of luck is going to change their fortune. People think, “If I can just hit the lottery my financial problems will be over”, “If I can just bump into that special person, then I’ll be in my dream relationship”, “If I can just catch the right break, my future is going to be fantastic”, or “Even though I don’t always stick to my diet, I think I’ll still lose weight.” See what I’m saying? That’s living on Fantasy Island. The problem is, that most people find it easier to live in a fantasy than they do in facing reality.
The Bible has a lot to say about personal responsibility, and if our life isn’t going where we want it to go, then it’s up to us to change direction. The Apostle Paul mentions how he “beats his body” to make it his slave, lest he become a victim of a lack of discipline. Some of us could use a little body beating before we go reaching for the cookie jar – again!
You can be your best asset or your greatest liability. The difference is all about the choices you make. Instead of sitting around waiting on Prince Charming, why don’t you work on being a princess worth finding? Or, instead of thinking success is something that just happens, you could step up and make your own success with something most people call hard work.
Don’t sit around waiting on the next plane to Fantasy Island…”Da plane, da plane” (You would have to see the show to know what I’m talking about), instead start walking in the direction you want your life to go. Wake up and realize, as nice as it may sound today, we don’t live on Fantasy Island; instead we live in a world that requires a lot of discipline, but the rewards are real.
Do you know anyone who needs to wake up and smell the coffee?